Sheriff Is Poised To Begin Patrols In Vicinity Of Nude-dancing Club

The McHenry County Sheriff's Department plans to begin patrolling streets in the Riverdale subdivision of Burtons Bridge, where The Splash Club nude dancing club is located.

The County Board's Law and Justice Committee recommended approval of the patrols Monday. The proposal now goes before the full County Board, which must give the final OK.

The Riverdale Property Owner's Association asked for the patrols because of heavy traffic to and from the club, much of it late at night and in the early hours of the morning. The Splash Club sits at the northwest corner of the 70-home subdivision, which has private roads.

"Since the opening of The Splash Club, at the far back end of the subdivision, there's at least twice as much traffic coming through our subdivision," said Chuck Kozel, president of the Riverdale Property Owners' Association. "It builds from when the club opens (6 p.m.) till whenever they close, usually about 3 or 4 in the morning."

Especially irksome to residents, Kozel said, is that Splash Club patrons often park in private driveways and on lawns. They also throw beer cans, wine bottles and other trash onto lawns.

The Sheriff's Department ordinarily does not have authority to enforce most traffic and parking regulations on privately owned streets. But a provision in Illinois law allows such enforcement if a person or board of directors that owns, operates or represents a residential subdivision with at least 10 apartments or single-family residences requests it, according to Assistant State's Atty. Mary Kay Walter.

Sheriff Keith Nygren said County Board approval would give the Sheriff's Department authority to write tickets for speeding, failure to use turn signals, broken headlights and other motor vehicle code violations.